WARWICKSHIRE today restated their commitment to maintaining a “home-grown” policy in this summer’s Twenty20.

In the last two weeks several counties have announced the signing of overseas players on short-term T20 contracts.

Essex, for example, have recruited Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait, who used to be a professional cricketer but now devotes all his playing time to T20.

Having not qualified for the finals day since the inaugural tournament in 2003, the Bears might have been tempted to look for additional overseas input beyond Jeetan Patel, who will be with them all season.

But Dougie Brown is a staunch advocate of the “let’s look within” policy favoured by his predecessor as director of cricket, Ashley Giles – not least because he reckons it will bring the right results.

“I am 100 per cent behind that policy,” Brown said. “The guys we have here have been one of the best teams in the country in 40-over cricket in recent years so I am sure they can be in T20 as well.

“It’s not just a question of cost. We feel there is another way to achieve success. We already have the players here to be competitive.

“We have some very good cricketers and also more coming through who can only benefit by playing first-team cricket. The more senior cricket they play and responsibility they take the better-equipped they’ll be.”

Chief executive Colin Povey shares that view – though he does add it is high time Warwickshire reached the finals day again, especially with the next three to be held at Edgbaston.

“With the finals day at Edgbaston for the next three years it would be nice to get there and win it on our own patch,” said Povey.

“I know that is quite high up the chairman’s agenda.

“But our policy has not changed.

“Some high-profile people have been hired by counties for this season but it would be interesting to know how much they have cost and interesting to see how much difference they make to their team’s fortunes.

“Even though we haven’t reached the finals day for a while, that doesn’t really tell the whole story.

“I think if you look back over the tournament’s history we have won more games than anyone else.”